In
according with Zadeh’s definition, Soft Computing (SC) is based on
Fuzzy Logic, Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, Evolutionary
Computation, Machine Learning and Probabilistic Reasoning. SC can deal
with ambiguous or noisy data and is tolerant of imprecision,
uncertainty, partial truth, and approximation. In effect, the role model
for SC is the human mind. Artificial Intelligence and Computational
Intelligence based on SC provide the background for the development of
smart management systems and decisions in case of ill-posed problems.

In many real-world situations, the problems of decision making are
subjected to some constraints, objectives and consequences that are not
accurately known. After Bellman and Zadeh introduced for the first time
fuzzy sets within multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM), many
researchers have been preoccupied by decision making in fuzzy
environments. The fusion between MCDM and fuzzy set theory has led to a
new decision theory, known today as fuzzy multi-criteria decision making
(FMCDM), where we have decision-maker models that can deal with
incomplete and uncertain knowledge and information. The most important
thing is that, when we want to assess, judge or decide we usually use a
natural language in which the words do not have a clear, definite
meaning. As a result, we need fuzzy numbers to express linguistic
variables, to describe the subjective judgement of a decision maker in a
quantitative manner. Fuzzy numbers (FN) most often used are triangular
FN, trapezoidal FN and Gaussian FN. We highlight that the concept of
linguistic variable introduced by Lotfi A. Zadeh in 1975 allows
computation with words instead of numbers and thus linguistic terms
defined by fuzzy sets are intensely used in problems of decision theory
for modelling uncertain information. After Atanassov introduced the
concept of intuitionistic fuzzy sets, where each element is
characterized by a membership function, as in fuzzy sets, as well as by a
non-membership function, the interest in the study of the problems of
decision making theory with the help of intuitionistic fuzzy sets has
increased.

The goal of this special session is to bring together researchers
interested in applications of soft computing algorithms and procedures
in quantitative management and decision making, in order to exchange
ideas on problems, solutions, and to work together in a friendly
environment.

"The
management team of Agora University of Oradea assumes transparency as an
essential component of quality." (Mission assumed by the rector and his
team)

EUA-IEP Team: "The team has enjoyed learning about the characteristics of Agora University and its role as an entrepreneurial provider of higher education in the fields of law, management and social science.
It has been an interesting experience to discuss with staff,
students, and external stakeholders the challenges faced by UAO and
the university’s efforts to address constraints and to explore future
opportunities. We believe the university has the potential to
take successful steps in its next stage of development."

Agora
University of Oradea is a higher education institution of private law and
public utility, founded in 2000 by Agora Foundation, accredited by ARACIS in
2010 and validated by the Romanian Parliament by Law 59/2012, as a part of national
system of higher education in Romania.

On
24.04.2012 I was elected rector by all teachers and students of the University
Agora, the legislature from 2012 to 2016, and in 2016 I was re-elected for the
mandate 2016-2020.

Rector
legally represents the University Agora of Oradea (UAO) in the National Council
of Rectors in relations with the Ministry of National Education and its
subordinate entities or advisory (ARACIS, CNATDCU, UEFISCDI etc.), with central
and local government, educational institutions and national
research and abroad, with domestic and international public bodies.

Although
young and small, with two faculties (Faculty of Economics and Faculty of Law
and Administration), University Agora is extremely dynamic and active. Instead
of a quantitative prefer qualitative development.

Without
false modesty, Agora University have some performance difficult to achieve even
some old and larger academic institutions: 5 research centers (two
international), a publishing house editing 5 international scientific journals
in English
language (one of which is indexed in ISI Web of Science), 5 international
conferences in English, a computer laboratory, a forensic laboratory, three
rooms with smart boards for videoconferencing courses, three lecture halls with
over 100 seats, platform for e- functional
learning, and 10 POS-DRU successfully projects.

If
you agree a higher quality education, through modern teaching technologies, in
full transparency and legality, come with the greatest confidence to University
Agora.

In
total transparency spirit that characterizes us, I invite you to read the
document below: Rector's
report about UAO 2015 (Cf. article 130 of Law 1/2011): PDF

Prof. Vinod K. Madan, from
Kalasalingam University, Krishnankoil, Tamil Nadu, India, visited Agora
University of Oradea, so far, twice. The first visit made in June 13, 2013, on
which occasion he had two invited lectures: 1) Nondestructive Evaluation using
Barkhausen Noise; 2) Digital
Signal Processing and Applications [1].

Professor Madan second visit took place during the period 15
to 20 October 2013, on which occasion he attended the 7th Agora International
Law Conference, AILC 2013, "Prospects and Challenges of 21st Century
Law" [2], where he presented the paper written in collaboration with R.K.
Sinha, The Dymamics of Rape in Modern Indian Society, which was
published later in the journal Agora International Journal of Juridical
Sciences.

During the second visit, Professor
Vinod Madan was accompanied by his university Chancellor (chancellor is
equivalent to them with the rector to us), Thiru K. Sridharan,
whom I invited to sign a Memorandum of understanding that we are committed to
collaboration in research and education, including teaching and student
mobility mutual[3].

Upon agreement of understanding and
an official invitation, from January 17 to 24, 2014, I paid a visit to India

The
visit to the Kalasalingam University [4] included:

1) Meeting of the board of
management (including the chancellor, vice chancellor, deans and department
heads), on which occasion I had the honor to hand over the scarf of honorary
member of their academic community, as a member în International Advisory
Committee of Kalasalingam University, the title was given to me on 10 October
2013. On this occasion, in my turn, I handed to Chancellor, Dr. Thiru K.
Sridharan The Certificate of Honorary Member of Agora University Senate

2)
Meeting with the president and founder of the university, Thiru T.
Kalasalingam, which gave me a beautiful garland and decorations

3)
Reading lecture invited to the academic community, teachers and students of
Kalasalingam University, with the theme From Hard to Soft Computing Computing;

4)
Tour the campus, along with the Chancellor Thiru K. Sridharan and Vinod Prof.
Madan (campus is located 60 km from Madurai, in a beautiful setting, has a very
high tensile and hosts all faculties, departments, hostels for boys and girls -
which we visited, three student canteens, one for boys, that girls who live in
dormitories, and one for staff and external students - who come to the
university with its own transport or part of the 65 buses - each equipped
university has its own fuelling station, sports fields, swimming pool, medical
center, pharmacy, car salvage, heliport, apartment building for teachers and
research guest house with its own dining room, places of worship, etc.);

5)
Visit to faculties and departments of education and research Kalasalingam
University (Kalasalingam University noted that it is very large, has faculties
of engineering, arts and sciences, pharmacy, over 50 undergraduate programs,
seven master's programs and doctoral schools in all areas and 8 departments,
nine professional societies and a center of excellence IBM and teaching is in
English);

6)
Religious ceremony of gratitude for the visit.

I should mention that I was given a
special honor during the visit, starting with accommodation in a room adjacent
to the university founder (your facility have a 3 star hotel with comfort Rich:
office with TV, Internet-connected computer, fridge water and fruit, bedroom,
bathroom, air conditioning and fan) and ending with the meals offered in
restaurants host of five-star hotels.

The
visit was well prepared beforehand, since arriving on campus in the evening of
19 January at the door I noticed a huge banner announcing the visit of Agora
University with my picture and my colleague who had to accompany me Associate
professor Viorina Judeu, but unfortunately she could not it. Such banners were
still two places inside the campus, the entrance to the administrative body and
near center of excellence IBM. On the morning of January 20 I went alone on
campus to take some pictures and I was pleasantly surprised that they are
greeted in the driveway by students and staff who recognized me after picture
of the banner, with "Hello Romania".

The things that
impressed me pleasantly at Kalasalingam University, are many, but I remember a
few of them:

1 ) The campus is very
clean , equipped with running water and drinking with all the necessary
amenities for living, such as a town independent from scolding centres and
laboratories, places of worship (near campus is even a Catholic Church to
potential Christians who attend the university and Christians in the area) ;

2) In the campus is
being built Kalasalingam International School, on the model of Agora
International School, the Indians saw Agora University during the visit in
October 2013 ( which can quickly implement some valuable ideas);

3 ) After the conference
where I had a lecture , several students from undergraduate studies, have
expressed their willingness to continue their studies in Romania for master.
Over 100 students were enrolled in the voluntary in Romanian language classes, and
we have engaged to send a Romanian language professor starting with autumn this
year to Kalasalingam University ;

4 ) Kalasalingam University is a
great potential for research and education institution, currently over 6,000
students, serving the community of Tamil Nadu, the second region of India in
the degree of economic and social development .

Kalasalingam University campus visit was preceded by
some excursions in Delhi [5] and Agra [6] and followed by a visit to the
jungles of Kerala region, also called the Land of God (including a traditional
Indian ride through the jungle, riding elephants) [7]. It should be noted that
in Southern India, in January, temperatures range between 30-38 degrees
Celsius.

Thank you so much my hosts for their hospitality and
honor that I have enjoyed throughout their visits.